Sewing machine button locating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine button locating mechanism with a slide having a button locator rotor for angularly orienting each button during the application of the preceeding button and for transferring the oriented button to the stitching station and simultaneously eject the applied button as the button locating mechanism is lifted from the associated material. The button locator rotor is pivotally withdrawn and latched in its withdrawn position as the button locating mechanism is lifted and is returned to its rear position and unlatched for engagement with the succeeding button as the button locating mechanism is lowered for the succeeding button apply cycle.

[451 Feb. 4, 1975 1 1 SEWING MACHINE BUTTON LOCATING MECHANISM [75] Inventors: John L. Rockerath; Harold J.

Schreck, both of Utica, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Jetsew, Inc., Barneveld, N.Y.

{22] Filed: May 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1465,855

[52] U.S.Cl. 112/113 [51] Int. Cl D051) 3/22 [58] Field of Search 214/1, 1 R; 221/156, 157, 221/173; 198/33, 33 RV; 193/43 R, 43 A; 112/104-1116, 110,113,114

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,382,824 5/1968 Bronfman 112/113 3,563,193 2/1971 Hughes et al.....,. 112/113 3,633,524 l/1972 Hodgins et al 112/113 3,670,673 6/1972 Jacobs et al. 112/113 Primary Examiner(]eo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmPrutzman, Hayes. Kalb &

Chilton [57] ABSTRACT A sewing machine button locating mechanism with a slide having a button locator rotor for angularly orienting each button during the application of the preceeding button and for transferring the oriented button to the stitching station and simultaneously eject the applied button as the button locating mechanism is lifted from the associated material. The button locator rotor is pivotally withdrawn and latched in its withdrawn position as the button locating mechanism is lifted and is returned to its rear position and unlatched for engagement with the succeeding button as the button locating mechanism is lowered for the succeeding button apply cycle.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SEWING MACHINE BUTTON LOCATING MECHANISM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to sewing machine installations for sewing buttons to material and more particularly to a new and improved sewing machine button locating mechanism for properly locatng a button at the stitching station of the sewing machine.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine button locat ing mechanism which provides for accurately locating each button at the stitching station of the machine for sewing the button to material and which facilitates removal of the applied button and material after the sewing operation is completed.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine button locating mechanism for locating a button at the stitching station with the usual button thread openings positioned in the desired angular orientation for receiving the laterally shifting sewing machine needle during the pre established programmed button sewing operation.

it is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine botton locating mechanism which provides for automatically angularly orienting a succeeding button while a preceding button is being applied.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine button locating mechanism which is automatically operable to locate a button at a stitching station in conjunction with the normal operation of the machine of applying a button to associated material and which is selectively manually operable to eject the button at the stitching station and replace it with a succeeding button.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine button locating mechanism which is automatically operated in proper sequence during and in conjunction with the button application steps of inserting material into the machine, sewing a button to the material and removing the material and applied button.

It is a further aim ofthe present invention to provide a new and improved sewing machine button locating mechanism for high speed button sewing machine installations which is mechanically operated in its entirety and which is automatically operated in part during the normal high speed button apply cycle and without increasing the cycle time period.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of an illustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a sewing machine installation incorporating an embodiment ofa sewing machine button locating mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged side elevation view. partly broken away and partly in section. of the sewing machine installation;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged plan section view. partly broken away and partly in section. of the sewing machine installation; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front elevation view. partly broken away. ofa button guideway of the button locating mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, a sewing machine installation 10 incorporating an embodimemt of a sewing machine button locating mechanism 12 of the present invention is shown comprising a conventional sewing machine 14 having a supporting base or platform 16 and an overlying arm 18 supporting the usual depending stitching needle 20 and containing the needle operating mechanism (not shown). The needle operating mechanism provides for reciprocating and laterally shifting the needle 20 for entering the thread apertures 24 ofa button 22 in a preestablishsed manner programmed in accordance with the type of button 22 used and for thereby stitching the button 22 to the selected material placed on the platform 16.

in a conventional manner. the sewing machine 14 is driven by a suitable electrical motor [not shown). and a first foot pedal 32 connected to the sewing machine 14 via a cable 34 is adapted to be manually operated to operate a trip mechanism (not shown) of the sewing machine 14 and thereby initiate a button apply cycle. The sewing machine 14 is then driven at a high speed and for a very short duration to perform a button apply cycle and stitch the button 22 at the stitching station 35 to the inserted material. A control cam 36 mounted on the underside of the base 38 of the sewing machine l4 operates the trip mechanism (not shown) of the sewing machine to automatically uncouple the sewing machine [4 from its drive motor at the end ofeach one-half revolution of the control cam 36, during which one-half revolution the button apply cycle is performed in accordance with the pre-established stitching program of the sewing machine 14.

Thus, each time the foot pedal 32 is depressed, the sewing machine 14 is operated for a very short duration to apply a button. After a button is applied. a second foot pedal 40 is manually operated by the machine operator to upwardly pivot and thereby lift the entire button locating mechanism 12 against the bias of a return leaf spring 41 from the material underlying the forward end of the button locating mechanism and thereby permit the material to be withdrawn and to permit the same or different material to be inserted under the button locating mechanism 12 for applying the succeeding button.

The second foot pedal 40 is connected via a cable 42 to operate a lever 44 at the rear of the sewing machine 14, and the lever 44 is connected via a cable 46, shaft 48 and a depending lift arm 50 for raising the button locating mechanism 12.

The button locating mechanism l2 comprises a frame 54 having a forward button guideway or chute 56 having a rear inclined portion 57 connected to the lower end of a suitable button gravity feed chute 58. The upper end of the gravity feed chute 58 is connected to a suitable automatic feed hopper (not shown). The guideway 56 has a pair of opposed laterally spaced guide slots 59, 60 for guiding the buttons 22 forwardly from the gravity feed chute 58 to a forward stitching station 35 of the guideway 56. The guide slot 59 has an inner fixed straight guide edge 61 which extends parallel to the guideway 56 and normal to the front of the machine. The forward end of the opposite guide slot 60 is provided in part by a retaining finger 66 having a retaining shoe 67 with an inner concave edge 68 for engaging the edge of a button 22. The retaining finger 66 is laterally urged by its leaf spring support 69 such that the retaining shoe 67 is adapted to be deflected slightly outwardly as a button 22 is transferred to the stitching station 35 and such that its concave shoe edge 68 engages and urges the button at the stitching station against the opposed fixed guide edge 61 to hold the button in place during the button apply cycle. After the button is applied, the button is adapted to be withdrawn directly outwardly from the button guidway during which movement the button retaining shoe 67 is again deflected slightly laterally outwardly to free the applied button 22.

A button locator slide 70 of the button locating mechanism 12 comprises an elongated support tube 72 and a button locator head 74 mounted on the forward end of the support tube 72 and having a rotatable button locator rotor 76 with depending pins 77 angularly and radially spaced for receipt within the button apertures 24 of the buttons 22 used. The button locator head 74 may for example be like that shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,563,193 of F. H. Hughes. et al., dated Feb. I6, 197] and entitled Button Deliverying Device."

The slide support tube 72 is mounted on a support lug 78 of the frame 54 such that the slide 70 can be shifted back and forth parallel to the axis of the guideway 56 between forward and rear positions established by suitable adjustable stops, for example adjustable collars 79 mounted on the support tube 72. Also, the slide support tube 72 can be pivoted about the support tube axis for withdrawing the button locator rotor 76 out of engagement with a button 22 at the stitching station 35 and for returning the button locator rotor 76 into engagement with the succeeding button 22.

An actuating rod 82 is reciprocably mounted within the support tube 72 and on a support lug 83 of the frame 54 such that the rod 82 can be reciprocated with or independently of the tube 72 and locator head 74. The actuating rod 82 is formed with a suitable rack 84 at its forward end. and an idler gear 86 is provided in the locator head 74 in mesh with the rack 84 and a gear 90 on the button locator rotor 76. Accordingly, by retracting the actuating rod 82 rearwardly relatively to the slide support tube 72, the button locator rotor 76 is rotated, in the clockwise direction as viewed from above the locator rotor 76.

A transversely extending rod operating arm 86 is mounted on the rod 82, and a tension spring 88 is connected between an upstanding pin 90 in the arm 86 and an upstanding pin 92 on a collar 94 fixed onto the tube 72 to bias the rod forwardly relative to the slide support tube 72 to its forward relative position shown in the drawings. The opposite ends of a stop pin 96 extending transversely through the actuating rod 82 are received within diametrically opposed slots 98 in the support tube 72 and collar 94 to establish the forward limit position of the rod 82 relative to the tube 72, thereby establishing the normal angular position of the button locator pins 77. The normal angular position of the button locator pins 77 is adjustable by axially adjusting the locator head 74 on the slide tube 72 and such that the pins 77 and therefore the button apertures 24 can be located in accordance with the pre-established programmed lateral movement of the stitching needle 20.

A second tension spring 100 is connected between the upstanding pin 92 on the slide tube collar 94 and a rearwardly and laterally spaced upstanding pin 102 on the frame 54 to axially return the slide to its rear or normal position shown in the drawings and to pivotally return the locator rotor 76 of the slide into engagement with a guideway button 22.

An upstanding slide operating arm 110 is mounted on the slide support tube 72 for selectively shifting the slide forwardly from its rear position shown in the drawings against the bias of the return spring for thereby shifting a button 22 to the stitching station 35. The operating arm is also adapted to be pivoted. clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, against the bias of the return spring 100 for raising the button locator rotor 76 out of engagement with the button 22 at the stitching station 35 and to thereby free the button 22 for being sewn to the inserted material and permit the button locator head 74 to be returned to its rear position for engaging a succeeding button. A cable operated lever or bell crank 112 is mounted under the overlying sewing machine arm 18 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis for engaging an inclined cam face 114 of the oper ating arm 110 for shifting the slide forwardly to its forward position. The inclined cam face 114 is contoured such that the axial position of the slide 70 is not substantially affected by the pivotal position of the entire locating mechanism 12 and such that the button locating mechanism 12 is free to be pivoted up and down with the lift pedal 40 without causing any binding between the arm 110 and lever 112.

A transversely extending actuating finger 116 having an adjustable actuating abutment 117 threaded onto a generally L-shaped operating rod 118 is mounted on the pedal operated shaft 48 to engage and pivot the arm 110 and thereby raise the locator head 74.

The lever 112 is connected via a cable 119 to be operated by the lift pedal operated lever 44. The cable 119 is operated by the lever 44 via a compression spring 121, whereas the cable 46 operating the shaft 48 is connected directly to the lever 44. The mechanism is also designed so that the lever 112 is pivoted to shift the button locator slide 70 to its full forward position during the initial portion of the upward pivotal movement of the button locating mechanism 12. After the slide 70 reaches its full forward position and during the subsequent upward movement of the button locating mechanism 12, the spring 121 is compressed and the actuating finger 116 engages the arm 110 to raise the locator rotor 76 from the stitching station button 22. Thus, the lever 112 and actuating finger 116 are mechanically actuated while the locating mechanism 12 is being manually raised by its operating pedal 40 to provide for sequentially shifting a button 22 to the stitching station and withdrawing the button locator head 74 from the button. Also, the actuating finger 116 is positioned so that the slide operating arm 110 and therefore the locator head 74 must be at substantially their forward positions before the arm 110 is engageable by the actuating finger 116.

Thus, as the button locating mechanism 12 is raised with the lift pedal 40 to permit the material and applied button to be removed, the succeeding button is shifted to the stitching station to engage and automatically eject the preceding applied button outwardly from the stitching station to help clear the stitching station and facilitate removal of the previously applied button and its associated material. The actuating rod 82 reciprocates with the slide support tube 72, and therefore the succeeding button is shifted to the stitching station in an angular position previously oriented as described hereinafter.

A slide latch 129 is moutned on the frame support lug 78 for engagement of its spring biased plunger 130 with the forward face of the slide operating arm H0. The axis of the plunger 130 is parallel to the axis of the slide 70 and the plunger 130 is actuated forwardly by the slide operating arm 110 against the bias of the plunger spring 131 as the slide is shifted forwardly for shifting a button 22 to the stitching station 35. The slide operating arm 110 is formed with a slot 134 for receiving the plunger 130 when the arm H0 is pivoted to its withdrawn pivotal position and such that the plunger 130 is then actuated rearwardly by its spring 131 to latch the slide operating arm 110 in its withdrawn pivotal position. The slide remains latched in its withdrawn pivotal position until the slide 70 reaches substantially its rear limit position, whereupon the plunger 130 becomes withdrawn from the slot 134 and the locator head 74 is thereupon free to be pivoted by the return spring 100 for engaging the succeeding button 22. The slide latch 129 is suitably mounted to be axially adjusted on the frame support lug 78 to adjust the rear limit position of the plunger 130 and to thereby set the release point of the operating arm 110 at substantially its rear limit position.

An upstanding self-orienting bearing 140 is mounted on the rod operating arm 86, and an operating rod 142 is slideably mounted in the bearing 140 and has a forward collar 144 for engaging the bearing 140 and withdrawing the rod 82 rearwardly against the bias of the rod return spring 88. The operating rod 142 is connected for being withdrawn by a suitable lever mechanism 146 having a lower cam operated lever or follower 148. The follower 148 is adapted to be operated by suitable diametrically opposed cams 150 mounted on the control cam 36 to momentarily withdraw the actuating rod 82 against the bias ofa return spring 151 during each one-half revolution of the control cam and therefore during each programmed button apply cycle. Such results in momentary rotation of the button locator rotor 76 and then reverse rotation of the locator rotor 76 by the rod return spring 88 to its preestablished normal angular position. This momentary oscillation of the locator rotor 76 occurs with the locator rotor 76 in its withdrawn position in engagement with the succeeding button 22 and during the preceding button apply cycle and therefore provides for automatically rotating the locator pins into the button apertures 24 and then angularly orienting the button for the subsequent stitching operation without lengthening the button apply cycle. The angularly aligned button is thereafter shifted to the stitching station by the locator pins with the button in its aligned angular position and without further rotation of the button.

Therefore it can be seen that a button can be readily applied to material by first depressing the lift pedal 40 to raise the button locating mechanism 12 and thereby permit insertion of material to properly underlie the button at the stitching station 35. A previously aligned button is automatically transferred to the stitching station while the button locating mechanism 12 is raised and the button is fully ready for attachment when the locating mechanism 12 is lowered onto the material. The button apply cycle pedal 32 is then momentarily operated to operate the stitching needle 20 through its pre-established programmed button apply cycle to sew the button to the material. During the very short button apply cycle, the succeeding button is angularly aligned by the button locator rotor 76. And when the button locating mechanism 12 is raised again by the lift pedal 40, the succeeding aligned button is shifted forwardly to the stitching station to eject the applied button and thereby facilitate removal of the applied button and material. Also, if for any reason the button transferred to the stitching station 35 is not acceptable, the button locating mechanism 12 can be easily manually operated with the foot pedal 40 or by manually operating the rod 82 and arm as desired.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

We claim:

1. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism with a button guideway adapted to overly the material at the stitching station and operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station. a slide having a button locator engageable with a button in the guideway, the slide being shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a but ton along the guideway to the stitching station and back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway. manually operated means for lifting the button guideway to facilitate removal and insertion of the underlying material, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position for transferring the engaged button to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway. the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises means coupling the slide to said manually operated means for automatically shifting the slide forwardly to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station in conjunction with lifting the button guideway with the manually operated means.

2. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1. wherein the manually operated means comprises a manually actuated operator and first mechanical means mechanically operated by the manually actuated operator for manually lifting the button guideway and wherein the coupling means comprises second mechanical means interconnecting the first mechanical means with the slide for manually actuating the slide from its first to its second position to transfer the engaged button to the stitching station with the manually actuated operator in conjunction with lifting the button guideway.

3. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the second mechanical means comprises a pivotally mounted lever for shifting the slide to its second position and mechanically connected to the manually actuated operator for shifting the slide to its second position to transfer the engaged button to the stitching station with the manually actuated operator.

4. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the slide is pivotal into engagement with a button in the guideway and to a withdrawn pivotal position with the button locator out of engagement with a guideway button, and wherein the mechanical means comprises means for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position for pivoting the button locator out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station.

5. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the button guideway comprises a first generally straight guide edge substantially parallel to the axis of the guideway and an opposed button retainer having a retainer shoe with an arcuate shoe edge engageable with an edge of a button at the stitching station and spring means for laterally biasing the shoe against the button for holding the button against the first guide edge. the retainer shoe being mounted to be laterally displaced against the spring means to permit ejection of the applied button with the succeeding button as the succeeding button is transferred to the stitching station.

6. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1 wherein the button locating mechanism comprises latching means for latching the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as it is returned to its rear position for engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway.

7. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1 wherein the sewing machine comprises drive means driven during the button apply cycle of the sewing machine, wherein the button locator comprises a rotatable button locator rotor engageable with a button in the guideway and rotatable for angularly aligning the engaged button for the button apply cycle. and wherein the button locating mechanism comprises sewing machine driven mechanical actuating means operable by the drive means during the button apply cycle to rotate the locator rotor and angularly align the succeeding button while the preceding button is being applied.

8. A sewing machine installation according to claim 7 wherein the sewing machine drive means comprises a rotatable control cam rotatable through a predetermined angle during the button apply cycle of the sewing machine wherein the slide comprises locator rotor operating means operable for rotating the locator rotor for aligning a button engaged thereby for the button apply cycle, and wherein the sewing machine driven mechanical actuating means is adapted to be actuated by the control cam for operating the rotor operating means during the button apply cycle.

9. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station. a slide shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway. the slide being pivotal into engagement with a guideway button and to a withdrawn pivotal position out of engagement with a guideway button. and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station and for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position for pivoting the slide out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station and returning the slide to its first position into engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway. the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises latching means for latching the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as it is returned to its first position for pivoting the slide into engagement with the succeeding button.

l0. A sewing machine installation according to claim 9 wherein the latching means comprises a reciprocable latching member, means for biasing the latching member in one direction, the latching member being mounted to be actuated in the opposite direction as the slide is shifted to its second position, and cooperating means cooperating with the latching member to automatically latch the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position when the slide is pivoted to its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as the slide is returned to its first position for engagement with the succeeding button.

ll. in a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station opera' ble through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station, a slide shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway. the slide being pivotal out of engagement with a guideway button to a withdrawn pivotal position, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station, for pivoting the slide to its with drawn pivotal position after the button is transferred to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its first position into engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway. the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises a manually actuated operator first mechanical means mechanically operated by the manually actuated operator for actuating the slide forwardly from its first position to its second position for transferring an engaged button to the stitching station and second mechanical means mechanically oper' ated by the manually actuated operator for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station.

12. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station, a button locator rotor shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the button locator rotor being also shiftable out of engagement with a guideway button to a withdrawn position, and button locator rotor operating means for shifting the locator rotor from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station, for shifting the locator rotor to its withdrawn position out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station, and for rotating the locator rotor for angularly orienting the engaged button for the button apply cycle, the improvement wherein the button locator rotor operating means comprises rotor drive means operable for rotating the rotor for angularly aligning the engaged button for the button apply cycle, and timing means operable with the locator rotor in its first position in engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway for operating the rotor drive means for aligning the succeeding button during the button apply cycle of the preceding button.

13. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism with a button guideway adapted to overly the material at the stitching station and operable for individually guiding buttons to the stitching station, a slide having a button locator engageable with a button in the guideway, the slide being shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and being shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, manually operated means for lifting the button guideway to facilitate removal and insertion of underlying material. and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position transferring an engaged button to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its rear position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises means coupling the slide to said manually operated means for automatically shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station in conjunction with lifting the button guideway, and wherein the button guideway comprises a first generally straight guide edge substantially parallel to the axis of the guideway and an opposed button retainer having a retainer shoe with an areuate shoe edge engageable with an edge of a button at the stitching station and biasing means for laterally biasing the shoe against the button for holding the button at the stitching station against the first guide edge, the retainer shoe being mounted to be laterally displaced against the biasing means to permit ejection of the applied button with the succeeding button as the succeeding button is transferred to the stitching station. l 

1. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism with a button guideway adapted to overly the material at the stitching station and operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station, a slide having a button locator engageable with a button in the guideway, the slide being shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, manually operated means for lifting the button guideway to facilitate removal and insertion of the underlying material, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position for transferring the engaged button to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises means coupling the slide to said manually operated means for automatically shifting the slide forwardly to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station in conjunction with lifting the button guideway with the manually operated means.
 2. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1, wherein the manually operated means comprises a manually actuated operator and first mechanical means mechanically operated by the manually actuated operator for manually lifting the button guideway and wherein the coupling means comprises second mechanical means interconnecting the first mechanical means with the slide for manually actuating the slide from its first to its second position to transfer the engaged button to the stitching station with the manually actuated operator in conjunction with lifting the button guideway.
 3. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the second mechanical means comprises a pivotally mounted lever for shifting the slide to its second position and mechanically connected to the manually actuated operator for shifting the slide to its second position to transfer the engaged button to the stitching station with the manually actuated operator.
 4. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the slide is pivotal into engagement with a button in the guideway and to a withdrawn pivotal position with the button locator out of engagement with a guideway button, and wherein the mechanical means comprises means for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position for pivoting the button locator out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station.
 5. A sewing machine installation according to claim 2 wherein the button guideway comprises a first generally straight guide edge substantially parallel to the axis of the guideway and an opposed button retainer having a retainer shoe with an arcuate shoe edge engageable with an edge of a button at the stitching station and spring means for laterally biasing the shoe against the button for holding the button against the first guide edge, the retainer shoe being mounted to be laterally displaced against the spring means to permit ejection of the applied button with the succeeding button as the succeeding button is transferred to the stitching station.
 6. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1 wherein the button locating mechanism comprises latching means for latching the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as it is returned to its rear position for engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway.
 7. A sewing machine installation according to claim 1 wherein the sewing machine comprises drive means driven during the button apply cycle of the sewing machine, wherein the button locator comprises a rotatable button locator rotor engageable with a button in the guideway and rotatable for angularly aligning the engaged button for the button apply cycle, and wherein the button locating mechanism comprises sewing machine driven mechanical actuating means operable by the drive means during the button apply cycle to rotate the locator rotor and angularly align the succeeding button while the preceding button is being applied.
 8. A sewing machine installation according to claim 7 wherein the sewing machine drive means comprises a rotatable control cam rotatable through a predetermined angle during the button apply cycle of the sewing machine, wherein the slide comprises locator rotor operating means operable for rotating the locator rotor for aligning a button engaged thereby for the button apply cycle, and wherein the sewing machine driven mechanical actuating means is adapted to be actuated by the control cam for operating the rotor operating means during the button apply cycle.
 9. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station, a slide shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the slide being pivotal into engagement with a guideway button and to a withdrawn pivotal position out of engagement with a guideway button, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station and for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position for pivoting the slide out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station and returning the slide to its first position into engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway, the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises latching means for latching the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as it is returned to its first position for pivoting the slide into engagement with the succeeding button.
 10. A sewing machine installation according to claim 9 wherein the latching means comprises a reciprocable latching member, means for biasing the latching member in one direction, the latching member being mounted to be actuated in the opposite direction as the slide is shifted to its second position, and cooperating means cooperating with the latching member to automatically latch the slide in its withdrawn pivotal position when the slide is pivoted to its withdrawn pivotal position and for automatically unlatching the slide as the slide is returned to its first position for engagement with the succeeding button.
 11. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station, a slide shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the slide being pivotal out of engagement with a guideway button to a withdrawn pivotal position, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station, for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pivotal position after the button is transferred to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its first position into engagement with the succeeding button in the guideway, the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises a manually actuated operator, first mechanical means mechanically operated by the manually actuated operator for actuating the slide forwardly from its first position to its second position for transferring an engaged button to the stitching station and second mechanical means mechanically operated by the manually actuated operator for pivoting the slide to its withdrawn pIvotal position out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station.
 12. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism operable for individually guiding buttons to and retaining them at the stitching station and having a button guideway for guiding buttons to the stitching station, a button locator rotor shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the button locator rotor being also shiftable out of engagement with a guideway button to a withdrawn position, and button locator rotor operating means for shifting the locator rotor from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station, for shifting the locator rotor to its withdrawn position out of engagement with the button after the button is transferred to the stitching station, and for rotating the locator rotor for angularly orienting the engaged button for the button apply cycle, the improvement wherein the button locator rotor operating means comprises rotor drive means operable for rotating the rotor for angularly aligning the engaged button for the button apply cycle, and timing means operable with the locator rotor in its first position in engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway for operating the rotor drive means for aligning the succeeding button during the button apply cycle of the preceding button.
 13. In a sewing machine button apply installation having a sewing machine with a stitching station operable through a button apply cycle for sewing a button onto material thereat; and a button locating mechanism with a button guideway adapted to overly the material at the stitching station and operable for individually guiding buttons to the stitching station, a slide having a button locator engageable with a button in the guideway, the slide being shiftable from a first position to a second position for transferring a button along the guideway to the stitching station and being shiftable back to its first position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, manually operated means for lifting the button guideway to facilitate removal and insertion of underlying material, and slide operating means for shifting the slide from its first to its second position transferring an engaged button to the stitching station and for returning the slide to its rear position for engagement with a succeeding button in the guideway, the improvement wherein the slide operating means comprises means coupling the slide to said manually operated means for automatically shifting the slide from its first to its second position to transfer an engaged button to the stitching station in conjunction with lifting the button guideway, and wherein the button guideway comprises a first generally straight guide edge substantially parallel to the axis of the guideway and an opposed button retainer having a retainer shoe with an arcuate shoe edge engageable with an edge of a button at the stitching station and biasing means for laterally biasing the shoe against the button for holding the button at the stitching station against the first guide edge, the retainer shoe being mounted to be laterally displaced against the biasing means to permit ejection of the applied button with the succeeding button as the succeeding button is transferred to the stitching station. 